So I am beginning the next step in my new program: bloodwork. I am sitting in the lab waiting room. They can never find my veins…blah.
I am also posting from my Blackberry Curve. Neato.
Category: Medical
Ok, it’s not as bad as it sounds. In reality I am not letting big things go. But I have tons of personal emails piling up, tons of work emails and “action items” that all seem to overlap and jockey for position. And I’m still plugging away at school. It’s already week seven of this class block, which means I am in finals mode for these nine week classes. Then I start all over again. So everything is really ok… but I feel like I am running a really long race!
The biggest news is probably the best news. I begin a medically managed (non-surgical) weight loss program on April 8th. April 8th is the first class… but the real deal starts when I wake up on the 9th. It’s too late for me to recount the details. Just know, I’m doing it, I’ll do my best to document it, and I’m excited to succeed.
My doc is already slashing my insulin by 50% on the evening of the 8th to account for my drop in carbs and calories. I’ll probably be totally off of it within a few weeks from then.
My end goal weight is 135… right now, I am 248. So over 100 lbs to go. Yep that’s right. But estimated weight loss for me in roughly 22 weeks is 40-60 lbs. That means I could be over half way before my 30th birthday in September. That is AWESOME!
So here’s to more working my arse off…. God bless.
Anna
Scarlet Grace:
Weight: 13 pounds
Height: 24 1/2 inches
Head Circ.: 39 1/2 cm
She got a few shots, and one oral immunization. She did very very well. Also, she hit 13 lbs so she can have the .08 dose of Tylenol instead of the .04 dose.
Aidan Grey:
Weight: (still) 28 pounds
Height: (I forgot to ask – I’ll update later)
Nurse: Ok, mom you’re gonna hold his arm and hand right here.
Me: [holds hand/arm]
Nurse [to Aidan]: Is it ok if I put a band-aid on your arm?
Aidan: SURE! (he LOVES bandages… weird, hehe)
Nurse: [gives Aidan shot in left upper arm]
Aidan: [crying of course]
Me: It’s ok honey, that’s it, we’re done.
Nurse: See you have a band-aid!
Aidan: [stops crying, commences scowling at Nurse]
Me: It’s ok honey.
Aidan: [turns head sharply to me and glares] She poked my ARM!
Me: [laughter and hugs]
Byetta
1 injection twice a day.
1st – 30 min before I eat breakfast
2nd – 30 min before I eat dinner
Started it this morning.
Kind of nauseated, but nothing like on the metformin. Hate injections, but do love that my blood sugar has not been out of whack so far. Well it’s been a tad low-ish (76 after breakfast) but that’s actually good control, not really hypoglycemically (new word?) low. Below 70 and it’d be notsogood. But I just ate some fruit after and was fine. I like fruit!!! 
The nausea tends to be after injection, then eases up when I eat, then comes back after I eat. My after dinner blood sugar was 92 (not quite 2 hrs post-prandial) so wow. I am a happy camper with that. Just getting used to my sugars not hitting 200 so I feel like I have low blood sugar. I’ll even out.
Thank goodness I was smart and started it on the weekend… I don’t know how I would’ve done work in the AM feeling like I did today. But I’m sick with a cold too, so I am kind of a mess, hehe.
And maybe one day I’ll be a “hot mess” because weight loss is a major side effect of this medicine. It also can suppress your appetite. But it’s not a bad thing. The way the medicine works is by having your stomach empty out a lot more slowly. When you have diabetes your stomach empties faster than a non-diabetic’s. So the sugars raise AND we get hungrier and hungrier. UGH… so I’ll be glad to not have food on my mind as much.
I didn’t believe it would make me less hungry, but for dinner it sure did. I got 2 tacos and a chalupa at Taco Bell (yah, did not want to cook, it was so hot). So I took my shot, then drove to Taco Bell and back. Oooh also ordered cinnamon twists to share with the hubby. And guess what? I ate 1 taco, and 1/2 (maybe 2/3) of my chalupa, and one cinnamon twist (because I felt bad I ordered them and didn’t eat ‘em, haha). So there sits 1 uneaten taco, bag of cinnamon twists (which hubby didn’t eat) and part of a chalupa. And I’m fine. Feel like blood sugar is low-ish but I’ll just nibble something and be ok.
Hope it stays good, and the nausea subsides soon. (If I’m “normal” it should go away within a week or two).
- Metformin – too much, making me sooo sick, had to leave work on Monday because I couldn’t function, literally could not. Think I may have started to get Lactic Acidosis, NOT good.
- Dr said to stop taking it, it’s not good for me. Said drink TONS of fluids. Said to call again Wednesday and update her and also be sure to tell her if it’s worse.
- Called Wed. Not so much like I’m gonna throw up now, but blood sugar is REALLY spiking. Had to leave a message with the nurse, Bernie.
- Today, still no call back, hmph, fasting blood sugar 168… NOT good!!! Feeling crappy.
- Called Dr office and spoke with Bernie again, said I left message yesterday, need a call back, blood sugar is out of whack, not sure what to do next. Bernie says, “well I gave her the message, so maybe she’ll call you back today, k, bye.” *click*
WTF?! Thanks for the help, …. ? Wasn’t done talking but ok.
Sunday Night
We left Nick’s parents’ house after our Easter celebration around 7 PM or so I believe. Nick and I had some additional things to get done – like I needed to finish my hospital bag. And we wanted to spend some quality time together before my hospital stay.
The night ended up being very surreal and sort of rushed. Maybe not “rushed” so much as very task oriented. Hmmm… I wonder who’s fault that is? I felt like if I sat down without a checklist or some sort of task that I would simply lose it. As it is I cried a couple of times missing Aidan and being nervous about the next day. We still managed to hang out though.
Monday Morning – pre op
We had to be at the hospital between 6:30 and 7 AM so we had to wake up pretty early. We each showered and got ready. I made sure to wear comfy clothes. I couldn’t eat anything and I kept having to remind myself not to eat or drink any water. I was so used to my little diabetic routine that it was actually a concious effort.
I got myself a “blankee” to use in the car because I needed to feel secure and I was super freezing. (In fact I have been cold constantly ever since then… it got worse after I had the baby).
We got in the car and we were running a tad late (but we still got to the hospital at about 7). I was getting really nervous in the car. Man I was so nervous this time. I remember being more calm last time. I guess sometimes the unknown is easier, eh?
When we got to the hospital I had Nick drop me at the front so I could get upstairs ASAP and he could park the car. I got my paper “I’m allowed in the hospital” purple wristband and hopped in the elevator. Yah, did NOT like the elevator ride… queezy, ugh.
I went to Labor & Delivery and got checked in. They had me get in my room and put on the ever so fashionable pink gown with the boob slits. I just left it open in the back – who’s gonna care at this point, right? I layed down and got monitored for a bit while the nurses changed shifts.
I was really uncomfortable after a while so they took me off the monitors. They said the baby was “perfect” so we were good with taking the monitors off.
Next I got my very UN-spa like shave. Yay – there’s “TMI” for ya.
Moving on…
Then all the scrubbing and the prepping and blah blah blah.
Then walked to the operating room. This was very different from last time because last time I got the epidural early in my L & D room and then did all my freaking out and puking and then got wheeled to the OR. So I walk in and the nurse has me face the lady prepping the tools for the epidural and the surgery. I knew enough to look down but I was thinking DUDE I should so be sitting on the other side of the operating table facing the DOOR not all the metal scary stuff! I decided to make a little joke like, “good thing I know to look down and not pay attention to what you’re doing” to the lady prepping and she was like, OMG turn her around and totally gave the nurse who brought me in a very WTF is wrong with you look.
So I got turned around, and I was fine really. I totally thought I was fine.
Monday Morning – the surgery
The anesthesiologist started her thing. I only had one local shot this time instead of 3 – cool. Then this time I had to say if I felt something on my right or left – didn’t have to do that last time either. In the middle of all this, all of a sudden I start down the road to passing out. I mean this was the most hardcore feeling ever. Now I REALLY know what “I feel like I’m going to pass out” means and feels like. I think I’ve passed out before but it was sudden. This was over 5 minutes of “stay with us Isabel, keep breathing, you’re doing GREAT, I need you to breathe Isabel… can you hear me, you’re doing fine, your blood pressure and oxygen are great, you can stay with us here…” BLAH! Sure there was that, but the same people were also breaking up those statements with the following SHOUTS down the hall, “we need help in here NOW, bring ammonia, I need more people to hold her (remember I was actually getting my epidural while this was happening), hurry up, where’s my help, I need ammonia NOW…” etc. In the midst of all that I’m having to stay with it enough to say, “I feel that on my left, I feel that on my right” for the anesthesiologist so I don’t end up all messed up from the epidural.
I will say this – the ammonia was AWESOME. Never has such a nasty smell been so welcome! It took like 10 waves throughout the ordeal to get me totally out of the passing out mode. By then my epidural was done and they were having me lay down.
Then came the familiar part – the 5 min or less or having the epidural and the puking began. I’d say about 8-10 times I threw up in the bucket thingie. I warned them ahead of time that I would probably get sick within a few minutes of getting the epidural, but they forgot, so I believe I nailed the anesthesiologist a bit the first time. Oops!
The anesthesiologist was super cool this time. It was also nice having a woman instead of a man do it. Not sure why, but it made be feel better. After the puking ended I was feeling just dandy. Really – it was cool, I was SO much more alert this time than last time. AND I could wiggle my toes the whole time during the surgery. I can’t tell you how comforting that was.
Then at the end I only needed a tad of the happy drugs – I think only 1 or 2 units. I felt it right away though and the anesthesiologist said, “wow, you were right, you really are sensitive to this stuff”… it was nice that she listened. I got less epidural medicine and less “drugs” and that let me have a much easier time of it all. I was totally alert when they put Scarlet next to me and I got to see them checking her out, and the whole nine yards. And I actually remember the recovery room and everything.
Monday Morning – post op
I was super happy in the recovery room because it was not too long after I was out of surgery that I could start to slide my legs back and forth a bit. A couple of the nurses thought it was funny that I was so happy about it, but I told them how I couldn’t move my legs for about a day and a 1/2 last time, and even after that it was slow going. Then they understood.
I actually got to have the baby near me the first day this time too. And though I was shaky in my arms so I couldn’t hold her yet, the nurses set me up with some pillows on the side, had me put my arm there, and then they set the baby down. The baby and I slept for about an hour that way. It was pure heaven. I think that was actually the next day (Tues) but it was still great.
My hospital stay
It was way better than last time. And I was a “VIP” (their words, not mine) with my own dietician who told me I didn’t have to eat what the food service people offered me. I got to find out what their “staple” items are that they always have and make my own meal selections and ignore their menu. So I had a hamburger w/lettuce and tomato almost every meal, hehe. Hey I needed the iron from the red meat and all the other options were not super balanced or appealing to me. I had broccoli, green beans and / or carrots with each meal too. Of course, the meals were after all the “liquids” for the first day or so. I didn’t eat liquids for a while either… I almost got sick off an ice chip, lol. So I had my IV in for a little while longer so I could have nutrition while not eating.
But I’ll tell ya, the first time I tasted that chicken broth after I was sure I could eat… it was so good, hehe.
The nurses were super awesome for the most part. So much so that when I went home I was sad and felt like I lost friends. You get attached to the people helping you and not caring that you are in no way, shape, or form dignified during such a time. hehe
The negatives…
I was anemic in my pregnancy – probably my fault because I didn’t take the prenatals or the iron supplement. I did for a week or so but it made me so sick. So I was really anemic before my surgery and I guess I lost a lot of blood so it was really bad after. They said people with that kind of anemia usually can barely talk, function, etc let alone be all fine like I was. I had no symptoms.
Well the doc filling in for my endocrinologist is known for being super micro managing of his patients’ care and runs a bazillion tests. So he orders all these tests and totally freaks out over the anemia. He had a hematologist consult with me and together the 2 of them scared the CRAP out of me. They had a new IV put in (a hep-lock) and did iron treatments and almost ordered a blood transfusion… WTF. And they were saying they wanted to make me stay in the hospital till “at least Saturday” to continue iron treatments, etc. And that the baby would probably go home before me!!!! Again WTF?! No way!
They said I’d have to have those out patient iron IV treatments each month and then eventually every few months most likely for life. 
Oh yah and this all got told to me during my only visit with Nick and Aidan and I was totally crying and Aidan was beginning to act up because the hematologist came in right when they got there and took up all of his “behaving in a boring place” time. By the time he left I had no visit left in me and Nick and Aidan had to leave. I felt very alone.
They were also drawing blood from me about 4 times a day. One lady came to draw blood while I was eating breakfast and I said she should come back in about 10 min so I could eat. I told her I just had an insulin shot (one time my sugar was up enough to need it on Tues) so I needed to eat right away or else I would be shaking and jacked up. She said she didn’t mean to push it but no she’s not coming back, the doc ordered these tests to be “stat” and to please hold out my arm. Again I said I need to eat. She said eat with the other hand (right hand) and give her my left arm. What a beeyotch.
The next day (Wed) my OB came to see me. She rocks. She was PISSED. She cancelled all the pending tests and said I could go home Thurs (which I guess was technically a day early for a c-section… I thought you only get 3 days, but I guess you get 4 – my insurance approval even came in for 4). She totally pulled rank with the other docs as my “primary care doc” for my prego related stuff. She told me that all the other docs had to do was look at my blood work from the beginning of my pregnancy and they would have seen I was not anemic then. In other words, the baby took all my iron stores and I did nothing to replenish them so I was anemic then. She wrote me a prescription for this special iron supplement that is easy on the tummy. She said just take that and the special prenatal for sensitive tummies and I’d bounce back.
I’ve been taking the iron each day, and began the prenatals a couple of days ago. I’ve been fine and less weak so I guess it’s working.
It was SO funny when the endocrinologist came in to see me later on. He said, “so I hear you’re getting sprung” … hahaha yah, bitter much? HA! That’s right I’m outta here doc! I wish my nurse practitioner endocrinologist could have been the one there. She knew my case better than anyone other than my OB. Maybe it’s a man thing – those jerks, LOL.
Homecoming
What a great day. Got my staples out, had a snack, got to leave.
Got home and felt a tinge of empty and loneliness. Attention withdrawls or something. Though I feel it was more the attachment and less the “attention”. I thrive with more people around than when I feel sort of “uncrowded” we’ll call it.
But I woke up the next day feeling fine about being home. Thank goodness.
Recovery so far…
Is okie dokie. Vicodin is nice.
Scarlet and I have a little cold right now. All went well at her 2 week wellness check on Monday and the doc said her congestion is only in her nose, so that’s good. The doc said Scarlet might have a common newborn thing with her hips occasionally dislocating. It’s due to a shallow hip joint. So I need to take to her a pediatric orthopedist to get checked out so my kiddo doesn’t have a limp her whole life. The doc said the hip thing would explain my concern about the baby screaming her head off when we change her diaper.
My 2 week wellness check with the OB is this afternoon. I am sure all is well.
I am tired – the baby has her days and nights mixed up. I am going to wake her up in the daytime though. Now that she’s past the 2 weeks I won’t feel so bad making her little butt get up!
So much stuff to update but no time. Easter was good Now we’re off to the hospital – wish me luck!
Monday is the big big day!
I have to get to the hospital early (which rocks as I’ve said previously). No sitting at home just tapping my SWOLLEN foot waiting for it to be time to leave. Roll out of bed, shower, and go. And you know me… my stuff will be all ready before the morning. Sigh. hehe
The bedroom is set up to welcome baby Scarlet. We are blessed to have a spacious enough place to have 2 small children in a 2 bedroom. The crib goes great in our room and our closet is big enough for her clothes and our clothes. We have a couple of things like the baby swing in Aidan’s closet for now. But I imagine that will just be out within a month or so. We just don’t want her essentials in his closet in case we need something while he’s sleeping.
I have some pretty baskets that I have set up on our long dresser… one has diapers, creams, changing pads, lotion, etc. And the other is going to have her blankets, bibs, socks, beanies, etc. I am putting that basket together today. We have shelves in our closet for other stuff, but the “loose” stuff like socks, etc… I want them all in one place, but we use all our drawers in both dressers so this is the easiest way. It’s actually kind of cool – works for us.
It’s so sad how much I have enjoyed getting our house together lately. Not because of the baby stuff of course, but because of the other types of projects I’ve been loving. Like reorganizing the kitchen cupboards, the closets in each room (our closets are HUGE), the linen cupboards, the living room (moved furniture around), etc.
Doing all this stuff with Nick has really given us a lot of time to chat and it’s been nice. I also am super glad that it’s been ages since I’ve watched TV in the daytime – I just am actually motivated to do other things.
We don’t really watch TV often and I love that. I think it sets a good example for Aidan too. I mean, he does have a TV and DVD player in his room, but even when he asks to watch something he ignores a lot of it or is dancing/playing around while it’s on. It’s more background than foreground. We haven’t really gotten to the point where we’ve had to “restrict” any TV time because he just has a built in balance. I am sure that will change later, but for right now it’s nice.
Back to baby stuff … I am having contractions each day throughout the day, but nothing to alert the media about. The contractions are very strong but there aren’t enough of them to make me need to go to the hospital.
The baby is moving a lot and she is VERY strong. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between her really stretching and a contraction. Sometimes I think it’s both because I feel like she’s ready to come our “ALIEN” style. 
My secret fear: What if the ultrasound was wrong and it’s not a girl but it’s a boy? Not that I won’t love a boy, etc (I mean duh) but I fear it because I really want a girl so badly, and we have all the pink stuff, hehe. I am sure it’s just a silly silly fear and I saw the ultrasound and it was VERY clear. But still – I think about how often those things can get messed up. God knows, right? Please God, let my little girl really be a girl!
I only have 1 appt left before I have the baby – my Friday fetal diagnostic appt. So no more endocrinologist or OB before the delivery!! WOO HOO! Blood sugar is pretty stable, baby is doing good, etc. I am nervous about Friday though because our daycare is closed for Good Friday and that means I need to bring Aidan with me. But I can’t move while I’m on the bed or we lose track of the baby. Um, so what shall I do? I will bring him a couple of toys, but I don’t know how he’ll do without his dad there.
Aidan has been a little “bitter” on and off with me since he really understood that the new baby will be coming to live with us. He told me the other day, “mama, I’m sad.” I said, “why are you sad honey.” He said, “I don’t want baby.” um…. well…. sorry buddy? So Nick and I sat down with him and explained all kinds of things that big brothers get to do that little sisters can’t do. Like go to Sea World or the Wild Animal Park with Grandma and Poppa. (Aidan is going with them to San Diego the first week of April for a few days). Also, getting to play at the park and all that kind of stuff. That seemed to help a bit.
The other night was particularly rough – he just started crying and only wanted Nick to hold him. When I approached him he scowled. But then later he kissed my tummy and said goodnight to the baby and said “see you Monday” – so who knows. I think he is just jealous and it’s normal. We promised him he’s always our buddy and that we love him very much.
We’ll try and make Aidan feel like his routine is as steady as possible in the coming weeks and months. To be honest, certain aspects of that shouldn’t be too difficult because we’re not very busy people. We don’t pack our weekends up too much really and we have lots of family time. We’re busy but in a family busy way… not always “out” or something – if we’re out it’s like grocery shopping or something and we all go. I don’t know how to describe it, hehe. We have plenty to do, but we try and do it all together… there, that’s the best way to say it.
So, I don’t know if I’ll really post again before I have the baby. And I am not all cool like Kristi with mobile blogging, lol, so I may be a tad silent for a bit. But I’ll see ya on the flip side when Nick and I have TWO kids!!!
Love you all!
Quick post about my surgery date. It has been moved to March 24th. Not sure what time the surgery will be yet, but the Dr’s office will call me and let me know.
I am tired and feeling icky and it’s been a long day already. But I’ll post more later or another day
I will be a mama again. Little Scarlet will be here soon!
I am excited and a little scared (surgery and all that) but I know God is with me and we’ll all be ok. I have all my doc appts scheduled until then and even my 6 week followup with the endocrinologist. Yes I have to have a 6 week after with my OB and the diabetes doc.
Not too much longer to go.
Today we are getting our carpets cleaned (YAYAYAY). Our house looks so clean with everything out of the way, especially all the toys being shoved in Aidan’s closet in his little crates, hehe. Can we just keep it this way?
I’ll be at fetal monitoring, then hanging out at Nick’s parents’ house to give the carpet time to dry. It should be a good day I hope. Yesterday was sort of ugh. Mostly because I just felt that way emotionally… I guess nothing really “happened” but that’s life sometimes right?
Hope y’all have a good day.
And hi to Kristi – it’s 3 weeks (well 2 weeks and 5 days) left for you too till your due date — I am so excited for you!!!
